"Lovino, just drop it!" I told him for the seventh time. He kept following me around the house as I cleaned, asking me what's wrong. I was running out of seam; anger was not something that I can't keep long.
"Not when you're like this, ragazza."
I quickly turned my back to him and headed to the door. He grabbed my hand and stopped me.
I blushed a million shades of red. I hate it when I react like this. I mean, it's just Lovi for pete's sake! He only grabbed my hand! I...I like when he holds my hand. A little too much.
After a moment of just standing there in silence, I sighed as he pulled me back to him.
"That's enough." He said, then lowered his voice. "What's bugging you, ragazza?"
I looked up at him. The boy who cared so much and asked for so little.
"Everything." I answered, then let my words rush out. "Kenzie won't leave me alone, Peter has been misbehaving in school, my trig teacher is threatening to fail me, and Dad's been on my case more than ever!...It's just been too much..."
I sank onto the couch as he sighed in annoyance at those causing me trouble.
"Perché la gente non può semplicemente lasciarla sola?(Why can't people just leave her alone?) Damn bastards." He said to himself.
"Look, I'll be fine. I-."
"You deal with your brother." He sat next to me. "We'll talk to tomorrow about how you can raise your grade and I'll speak with my idiota of a dad to have a talk with yours. Kenzie also won't mess with you anymore. I promise you that."
"Lovi...I—Peter get to bed!"
I spotted him in the door leading to the kitchen.
"But I'm thirsty!" He argued. "And you're suppose to tuck me in, but that jerk won't leave you alone!"
I sighed. I wanted to scold Peter for his rudeness to Lovi, but I was too tired. Honestly it wasn't the first time and it won't be the last. Peter has just never like Lovi for some reason. Is he afraid of losing me? He's lost both Mama and Dad. I'm all he has left. Or maybe he just doesn't want to share me? I just don't know.
"Just get a drink then I'll tuck you in." I told my brother.
"But my cup is too high and you said I couldn't climb on the counters anymore!"He whined.
I sigh and stood up. He always had to have the blue cup with the boat and fish on it.
"Okay, come on." I smiled a bit for him. I didn't want him to think that my real mood was his fault.
I got his cup from the top shelf and filled it with water before we headed upstairs to his room.
"Now time for bed, Little Rabbit." I tickled him as he hopped into bed. I've called him that since he was little, starting back when I read him the story of Peter Rabbit.
He laughed and I laid there with him for a moment. I stroked his hair as he snuggled up to me.
"Will you read me a story?" He looked up at me and I kissed his forehead.
"No, I'm sorry. Not tonight."
"Then will you sleep in here with me?"
"Not tonight. I have to finish cleaning." I felt bad, but I really just wanted to be in my own bed for once.
He pouted.
"You just want to spend time with him."
"Peter don't start. He has nothing to do with this. I'm sorry if I hurt your feeling, but I'm too tired to deal with this."
He rolled over to face away from me. I sigh and got up. I kissed him on his head once more before heading to the door."
"'Night, Peter." I whispered before closing the door.
"…'Night, sis." He whispered back.
I just stood outside his door for a moment.
Is it my fault that Peter has been misbehaving? Am I not giving him enough attention? Have I really spent too much time with Lovi? What do I do now? How can I make things better?
I went back downstairs to finish cleaning. When I made it to the living room, I found it all tidied up with everything in its place? I heard the sound of running water from the kitchen so I peeked inside and found Lovi doing the dishes.
"Lovi, I was going to—"
"It's no big deal. I had the time so I did them." He looked away and pretended to be annoyed, but like always, was just trying to hide his red face. He's just embarrassed that I caught him. He's the type of person who doesn't want to be thanked or acknowledged when he does something for others. I can be the same way at times, but not as much as Lovi is.
I watched him patiently as turned off the water dried his hands, finally finished with the dishes.
He glanced at me.
"More on your mind?"
I didn't want to talk to about at the moment.
"I was just wondering...how do you plan on 'handling' Kenzie?"
Kenzie is a girl at my school who used to bully me when I was. She ignored me when I first came back to school, but I've been targeted by her once again now. The question was just a cover, but I was curious about it all the same.
"Don't worry about it. It'll be fixed and that's all that matters." He answered.
"Ok then..." I yawned. "Well, I'm off to bed."
"Fine...'night, Aimi."
"'Night, Lovi.
Lovi watched her leave the room till she was out of sight.
"Sogni d'oro, mio Aimi. Prometto di farvi sorridere domani. (Sweet dreams, my Aimi. I promise to make you smile tomorrow.)" He whispered.
Aimi is the most important person to him. He'd do anything for her. It's been like this and though he doesn't understand why or how it got this, he doesn't mind. He loves making her smile and is prepared to do everything in his power to bring it back, if it should disappear. He's content with how things are between them, for the most part at least. It feels like something's missing though and it has for the last couple years. He just can't figure out.